Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce supply and demand
Jan 22, 2025 - Highlights recent research studies on obstetric service access in rural communities nationally and in Minnesota. Discusses distance to care, reasons for closures, and projected shortages of obstetric and gynecology physicians.
Source: MinnPost
Jan 22, 2025 - Summarizes recent research finding that rural areas have a shortage of ophthalmic surgeons despite a higher need for ophthalmic surgery for rural residents. Discusses trends in access to eye surgeons and specialists between 2012 and 2022 and regional access disparities.
Source: HealthDay News
Jan 15, 2025 - Describes current and projected physician workforce shortages in Minnesota. Notes that shortages are most acute in rural areas and in key fields including pediatrics, family medicine, and obstetrics. Discusses the impact of shortages on healthcare access and incentives to recruit new physicians.
Source: CBS News, WCCO News
Jan 13, 2025 - Discusses the factors contributing to a growing shortage of primary care doctors across the nation and efforts by medical schools to encourage students to pursue a career in primary care. Highlights a University of Washington program which has shown success in funneling primary care graduates to rural communities.
Source: KFF Health News
Jan 9, 2025 - Details the findings of a recent survey on workforce shortages at Minnesota long-term care facilities. Discusses the relationship between staffing shortages and long-term care facility closures, which have been concentrated in rural Minnesota. Highlights the growing number of facilities that are recruiting workers from other countries, and efforts to streamline the recruitment and immigration processes.
Source: MinnPost
Jan 9, 2025 - Profiles a program specialist in the West Virginia University Rural Track in the School of Medicine. Describes the program and the challenges it aims to overcome including workforce shortages and rural-focused training for future physicians.
Source: My Buckhannon
Jan 7, 2025 - Describes a program connecting nurses in training with patients through free screenings in rural and other underserved communities across Indiana, offering the students hands-on practice and increasing access to healthcare for rural residents. Highlights other health outreach activities through Indiana University including eye exams, oral healthcare, fitness assessments, and more. Notes the efforts by the university to address healthcare workforce shortages in the state.
Source: News at IU
Jan 6, 2025 - Profiles a community health worker (CHW) in rural Arkansas. Describes the role of CHWs in their communities, workforce shortages across the state, and CHW training.
Source: UAMS News
Dec 30, 2024 - Discusses projected healthcare workforce shortages across Illinois, particularly for rural areas. Highlights strategies to attract workforce including the benefits of rural living.
Source: WRAM
Dec 30, 2024 - Discusses a new dental school in Arkansas, the first in the state. School administrators hope that the program will reduce dental workforce shortages, particularly for rural areas. Highlights funding and oral care access disparities.
Source: Arkansas Advocate